France Reports First-Ever Human Case of Shamonda Virus; Patient Dies

France has reported the first documented human infection with the Shamonda virus, which was previously known to affect animals, after an infected patient died on Thursday. Authorities have said that no risk to the general population has been identified at this stage.

According to reports, the patient was severely immunocompromised and was receiving treatment for a serious illness in Lyon. French authorities suspect the infection may have occurred following a bite from an infected midge in eastern France, where the virus had circulated among animals during the spring and summer of 2026.

“This is therefore an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised patient,” the French health ministry said, adding that no public health risk to the general population had been identified to date.

Shamonda virus primarily affects livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats and horses. It is believed to spread among animals through the bites of Culicoides midges, small, fly-like insects. Further research is needed to establish how the virus infected the French patient and whether it can be transmitted to humans under other circumstances.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the development in a post on X on October 22, 2026, expressing condolences to the deceased patient’s loved ones.

“France has reported the first documented case of a human infection with Shamonda virus, a virus only previously detected in animals,” Tedros wrote, noting that the patient lived in an area where the virus was circulating among animals and Culicoides midges were present.

He added that the WHO was in contact with French authorities, who are gathering information to determine the source of the infection, possible routes of transmission and any potential public health risks.

The case marks a significant development in the understanding of Shamonda virus, which was previously considered incapable of infecting humans. Investigations are ongoing, and health authorities have stressed that no wider public health threat has been identified so far.